Magna Carta News
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Same sex marriages
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division
February 5, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY - In light of a recent Massachusetts court ruling that sets the stage for the first legal, sanctioned same-sex wedding, an Oklahoma lawmaker wants his fellow colleagues to join him to prevent those kinds of marriages from ever occurring in this state.
Rep. Mike O'Neal has filed House Joint Resolution 1042 that would place the matter of gay marriages before a vote of the people. If Oklahomans agree with the Enid Republican and the sanctity of a "one woman and one man" marriage, a new section of law would be added to the state Constitution.
The section would proclaim that, "It being the public policy of this state to protect the unique relationship of marriage in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and the best interest of children, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Oklahoma. Any other relationship
shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent in this state."
With the Massachusetts high court's ruling in mind, O'Neal said, "I am providing every Oklahoma legislator from the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore on down an opportunity to step up and be courageous by promptly coming by my office and signifying that they will co-author House Joint Resolution 1042. Time is valuable because we have only two weeks to pass the resolution through the state House Committee
on the Judiciary and on to the full House of Representatives for their consideration."
Oklahoma has a "Defense of Marriage Act" statute, he related. "But if the state Supreme Court one day decided it's unconstitutional that marriage be defined as just one man and one woman in Oklahoma, that panel of judges would have the power to remove it from state statutes."
O'Neal said he wants to follow in the footsteps of Hawaii's Legislature. "They defined marriage and then put it in their Constitution," he said. "That's the way you deal with courts and the politically-correct environment. You put all your really valuable
foundations in state Constitutions. And the unique relationship of marriage is one of those foundations."
He said he is certain the issue will stir peoples' opinions.
"Others in this region are going to discuss what the Massachusetts court has done, and then wonder what this state plans to do. I don't want Oklahomans to maintain the attitude that the topic is a divisive issue. It is important for everyone."
- 30 -
Scott Hancock
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
1-800-522-8502 ext 422
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division
February 5, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY - In light of a recent Massachusetts court ruling that sets the stage for the first legal, sanctioned same-sex wedding, an Oklahoma lawmaker wants his fellow colleagues to join him to prevent those kinds of marriages from ever occurring in this state.
Rep. Mike O'Neal has filed House Joint Resolution 1042 that would place the matter of gay marriages before a vote of the people. If Oklahomans agree with the Enid Republican and the sanctity of a "one woman and one man" marriage, a new section of law would be added to the state Constitution.
The section would proclaim that, "It being the public policy of this state to protect the unique relationship of marriage in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society and the best interest of children, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Oklahoma. Any other relationship
shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent in this state."
With the Massachusetts high court's ruling in mind, O'Neal said, "I am providing every Oklahoma legislator from the House Speaker and the Senate President Pro Tempore on down an opportunity to step up and be courageous by promptly coming by my office and signifying that they will co-author House Joint Resolution 1042. Time is valuable because we have only two weeks to pass the resolution through the state House Committee
on the Judiciary and on to the full House of Representatives for their consideration."
Oklahoma has a "Defense of Marriage Act" statute, he related. "But if the state Supreme Court one day decided it's unconstitutional that marriage be defined as just one man and one woman in Oklahoma, that panel of judges would have the power to remove it from state statutes."
O'Neal said he wants to follow in the footsteps of Hawaii's Legislature. "They defined marriage and then put it in their Constitution," he said. "That's the way you deal with courts and the politically-correct environment. You put all your really valuable
foundations in state Constitutions. And the unique relationship of marriage is one of those foundations."
He said he is certain the issue will stir peoples' opinions.
"Others in this region are going to discuss what the Massachusetts court has done, and then wonder what this state plans to do. I don't want Oklahomans to maintain the attitude that the topic is a divisive issue. It is important for everyone."
- 30 -
Scott Hancock
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
1-800-522-8502 ext 422
